Huw Edwards‘ ex-colleagues are publically rounding on the former BBC News anchor after he pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images of children.
A steady trickle of BBC presenters have spoken out about Edwards’ dramatic fall from grace in recent days, with some noting their shock at the conduct of a man they once considered a trusted ally.
Those who have made their views known include Nicky Campbell, the seasoned Radio 5 Live presenter, and Nicholas Witchell, the recently departed BBC royal correspondent, who sat next to Edwards during coverage of the Queen’s death and other national moments.
On Twitter/X, Campbell wrote: “Let’s think about the children in these images. Callously exploited and psychologically destroyed. They are not images. They are humans who will live with this forever and all for the twisted pleasure of the disgusting men who trade and swap this misery.”
Witchell, the former royal correspondent, told The Daily Mail: “I regarded him as a friend and expressed sympathy for him in July of last year. I now think his behavior is utterly deplorable.”
He accused Edwards of putting the BBC in an “impossible position” by declining to resign in November 2023, when he was arrested and his employer was informed that he was under police investigation.
“He would have known then that the game was up,” Witchell continued. “The very least he should do now, if he has a shred of decency, is to repay the money the BBC has paid him since his arrest.”
BBC host Jeremy Vine
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Jeremy Vine, the Radio 2 presenter, questioned the BBC’s handling of the situation, arguing that it should not have paid Edwards after being informed about his arrest last year.
“I don’t know whether the BBC asked him, ‘Are you guilty?’, because you can’t justify paying him beyond November if you know he’s guilty,” Vine said on his Channel 5 show.
“What a mess, and the poor BBC at the center. It has terrible moments, but there are precious reasons why we don’t want it to go down the swanny. This is not the day to defend it, because this is a bad, bad week. I couldn’t believe yesterday when I heard that the BBC had been told about it in November.”
Jennie Bond, a former BBC Royal correspondent, told Vine’s show: “Frankly, if Huw has any dignity left then he would hand some of the money back, certainly the 200 grand he has made since his arrest. I think it would be gracious of him to do that.”
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy spoke to Tim Davie, the BBC director general, on the phone on Thursday and demanded more transparency from the British broadcaster.
A Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport spokesperson said: “The Culture Secretary is, like the whole nation, shocked by Huw Edwards’ abhorrent actions, and her thoughts are with the victims whose lives have been destroyed. It is now for the judiciary to decide on an appropriate sentence.
“The BBC is operationally and editorially independent, but given the incredibly serious nature of this issue, the Secretary of State has spoken to the BBC to raise concerns on a number of points regarding the handling of their own investigations into Huw Edwards, what safeguards and processes had been followed in this case, and additionally, what further action may be taken, especially with regard to the handling of licence fee payers’ money.
“She sought assurance that the BBC has robust processes in place regarding non-editorial complaints, and the handling of complex contractual matters, so that in future it can act at pace and be transparent with the public at the earliest opportunity to ensure trust is maintained.”
